Tape punch

ABSTRACT

A manually operable tape punch for producing code perforations in tape in which a manually operable punch member operates a perforating mechanism including a rectangular array of die holes and a corresponding rectangular array of perforating pins. The pins are yieldably held in a raised position by spring plate means cooperating with all the pins and yieldably mounted by means of a selected plurality of compression springs. The selection of the perforations to be punched may be carried out by a code card by a plurality of adjustable members which are carried by the punch member and associated with the remaining rows of pins of said rectangular array.

waited States Eatent 1 1 Lawrence, executor et al.

[ 1 Mar. 27, 1973 1 TAPE PUNCH [73] Assignee: Cycle Equipment Company[22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1970 211 App]. 1%.; 93,756

Related [1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 727,759,May 6, 1968,

abandoned.

52 U.S.Cl. ..234/38,234/45,234/78, 234/128 511 1111.01. ..G06k 1/10 58FieldofSearch ..234/35,37,3s,45,4s,7s, 234/100,12s

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,285,837 11/1918 Swanson..234/45 1,429,719 9/1922 Day ..234/45 2,255,794 9/1941 Lake .1..234/373,124,302 3/1964 Amett, Jr, et al. "234/45 Primary ExaminerJames M.Meister Attorney--Allen 8L Chromy [57] ABSTRACT A manually operable tapepunch for producing code perforations in tape in which a manuallyoperable punch member operates a perforating mechanism including arectangular array of die holes and a corresponding rectangular array ofperforating pins. The pins are yieldably held in a raised position byspring plate means cooperating with all the pins and yieldably mountedby means of a selected plurality of compression springs. The selectionof the perforations to be punched may be carried out by a code card by aplurality of adjustable members which are carried by the punch memberand associated with the remaining rows of pins of said rectangulararray.

7 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMRZ 7 I975 SHEET 10F 5 WVVENKJRSFREDERICK J. LAWRENCE FREDERICK Jv LAWRENCE, EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OFJOSEPH L.

LAWRENCE;DECEASED.

A T TORNEVS N N N h M/VE/VTOPS Q k n O FREDERICK J LAWRENCE 0 570mFREDERICK J. LAWRENCE; EYECUTOR I v w OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH L. wLAWRENCE, DECEASED. q. V BY PATENH-Ifimmms 3,722,792

sum 3 OF 5 /NVENTOR$ FREDERICK J, LAWRENCE FREDERICK J. LAWRENCEEYECLJTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH L.

LAWRENCE, DECEASED.

PATENHUMAR27|975 3,722,792

SHEET 5 BF 5 3| 2e 29 hi lol I07 y :f m FIG.I5

FREDERICK J.LAWRENCE FREDERICK J. LAWRENCE, EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OFJOSEPH L. E 20 LAWRENCE, DECEASED FIG. I?

ATTO EYs TAPE PUNCH This application is a continuation of our copendingApplication Ser. No. 727,759 filed May 6, 1968, now abandoned for TAPEPUNCH.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a manuallyoperable tape punch of the type adapted for producing fivechannel ormore coded or punched tape for use in data processing and the like, andis concerned more particularly with a tape punch of the above characterwhich can be employed to perforate data representing certain fixedcharacters corresponding to the characters in a perforated code card foruse with the tape punch, and certain adjustable code character membersin the punch representing data related to the data perforated by thefixed characters.

For example, in the manufacturing operation it is desirable inconnection with a system of purchasing, or of taking inventory, torepresent a particular article by a number code, and to representcertain data, for example the amount of the article inventory, and thedesired purchase, also in code on tape so that the punched tape can beused in automatic accounting operations. Also in connection with creditcard operations, the credit card of a purchaser has code perforationsrepresenting the identity of the purchaser, or his account number, andthe adjustable means or character members can be employed to enter theamount of the purchase in the punched tape, which data is latertransmitted to a central accounting system.

The tape punch of the present invention is adapted to be used in systemsof the above character and to provide a portable, easily operated, tapepunch for the above and similar purposes.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved tapepunch for producing perforated coded tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of the abovecharacter which is manually operable and does not require any connectionto a source of power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of theabove character in which certain of the perforations to be placed in thetape are fixed in accordance with a code card or a reference data, andthe remaining perforations to be placed in the tape can be selected torepresent varying information with respect to the permanent code dataplaced on the tape with the code card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of the abovecharacter in which the operation of punching the tape automaticallycontrols the feeding of the tape for a desired amount for the nextoperation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of theabove character in which the punching means and the tape supportingmeans are coupled together during the punching operation, but can beseparated to allow easy access to the tape when the punching operationis not in process.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of theabove character which has a punching pin assembly which can be separatedat the location of the tape so that inspection of the tape can be easilymade and the tape can be easily inserted or removed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tape punch of theabove character in which a card holder provides for easy and quickalignment of a code card when placed in the tape punch.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a multiple rowpunch mechanism having an improved spring assembly which is utilizedwith a plurality of rows of the punching pins.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in perspective of the tape punch ofthe instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, partially in elevation, taken inthe plane indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation taken in the plane indicated by line 3-3in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in perspective of the punch taken fromthe opposite side of that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the base of the tape punch showingthe code card station and the perforating pins;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a code control card for use with the mechanism;

. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the tape punch;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-8in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken in a planeindicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line10-10 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the punch mechanism;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the adjustableelements controlling certain of the punching pins, the view being takenas indicated by the line 12-12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated bythe plane of the line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating theoperation of the punch in closing of the punch assembly with referenceto the die in the base;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, a certain part shownin elevation, the plane of the view being indicated by the line 15-15 inFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG; 14 showing the parts inthe fully closed position of the punch and the die;

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view through the punch mechanismshowing the hinged punch part raised for inspection or adjustment of thetape;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of the line18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 19-19 in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 11, the tape punch includes generally abase 20, a punch pin mechanism 21 on the base including a control cardstation 22. A conventional printing platen 23 and a date printer 24 arealso mounted on the base. A punching frame 26 is pivotally mounted at 27on an upwardly extending portion 25 of the base, and carries anoperating handle 28 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 26 and isspring-urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 14, bysprings 31. The punching frame 26 carries a punching'plate 36 (FIG. 11)having a rectangular array of perforations or corresponding to therectangular array of pins in the pin assembly and cooperating with aperforated control card 37 and the card station 22 on the base. Theframe 26 (FIGS. 1, 7 and 11) also carries an array of six perforatingcontrol disks or decagons 38 journaled on a horizontal shaft 39 carriedby an upright wall 40 and having a corresponding array of hand wheels 41having a plurality of release keys 42. This mechanism is described laterin detail.

Punch Mechanism Referring to FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11, the punch pinmechanism 21 comprises a base plate 241 carried by a frame casting 242and having a rectangular array of perforations 43 therein, each of whichis enlarged at the lower end at 43a. Below these perforations 430 thereis provided in the casting 42 a slidable tray 44 to receive the chadsperforated from the tape 45. The perforated base plate 241 has a pair ofupstanding ears 46 which carry removable pivot pins 47 upon which theupper pin-carrying assembly consisting of two spaced plates 48 and 49 iscarried, these plates 48 and 49 have a rectangular array of aperturescorresponding to the array of apertures 43 in the plate 241 and theapertures 51 in the plate 49 are of a larger diameter to receive thelarger ends 52a of a perforation punching pin 52, and the plate 48 has aseries of smaller apertures 53 to mate with the lower reduced ends 52bof the pins 52, an annular collar 52c providing a stop for the pinsagainst the plate 49. The lower surface of the plate 48 has alongitudinal groove 48a to engage over the tape 45 and to hold it inplace for punching operations and for guiding during movement.

The spring means for maintaining the pins elevated or raised, as shownin FIG. 17, comprises a resilient, flexible thin spring plate 56 whichis perforated corresponding to the smaller diameter 52b of the pins, anda plurality of selectively spaced compression springs 57 which extendbetween the plate 56 and a wall 48b of the member 48. The plurality ofsprings 57 are provided to yieldably hold the plate 56 in the positionThe punch pin mechanism 21 is provided with a positioning means for-thecontrol card 37 and, referring to FIG. 5, this comprises a perforatingpin 61 which is the only pin of a row and which is longer and is moreelevated than any of the pins 52, and engages a corresponding hole 62 inthe control card 37 (FIG. 6), and a nest formed by a plate 63 (FIG. 5)at the control card station 22 which is secured to the upper plate 48 ofthe punch mechanism and in part is spaced from the upper surface of thisplate 48 as distance to form a cardshaped recess to receive an end ofthe card 37. This recess has rounded comers 63a which correspond to therounded comers of the control card and an end wall 63b which forms astop for the end of the control card. The flexible control card 37 canhave its end placed in the recess or positioning slot formed by theplate 63 as seen in FIG. 5, and then allowed to spring down until itsaperture or positioning hold 62 engages over the raised pin 61 of thegroup of pins 52.

As seen in FIG. 6 the control card 37 has a series of code perforations66 which correspond in reverse code to the ordinary five-hole code,i.e., where there is no perforation a hole will be punched in the tapeupon operation of the punch mechanism. Conversely wherethere is aperforation, the punch pin will be allowed to enter the perforationwithout punching the tape. The pin 61 is of sufficient length to alwaysbe operated so that the single hole in the row of perforation is alwaysperforated to indicate space. The unperforated row to the right of theperforations in card 37 in FIG. 6 would result in perforating the entirerow having pins 52 but as seen in FIG. 5 one of these pins is omitted sothat the code designation for Figs. following is punched in this rowsofholes to indicate that the following code designations, as will beexplained in connection with control disks or decagons 38, are to be inNumbers or Figs.

The second means for controlling perforations comprises the six settableperforation control disks or decagons 38 (FIGS. 11, 12 and 13), whichhave their shown in balanced fashion. Upon depression of any pin 52associated with the plate 56, the plate 56 will yield and permitdepression of the pin, so that this pin can perforate the tape 45. Thepins 52 which are not positively actuated, although moving slightly withthe plate 56, are held by the tape 45 and will not produce aperforation. This spring means provides for use of a larger diameterspring 57 of larger size wire as it has the entire space betweenadjacent pins 52 to accommodate its diameter and spacing. In FIG. 17 thethickness of the plate 56 is exaggerated for clear illustration. Theactual thickness of the plate 56 is in the order of 0.0 l 5 inches.

Perforation Control Mechanism Means are provided for positioning of aperforation control or code card over the punching mechanism to controlone group or rectangular array of the perforating pins in producingcoded perforations in the tape, and for the other group of pinsperforation control disks or decagons 38 carried by the punch mechanism.

ten sides slotted or recessed in code fashion corresponding to differentnumber or letter symbols as the case may be. In general, as indicated inFIG. 11, each surface of the decagon corresponds to one of the numbersfrom 0 to 10 except the endmost decagon 38a which may have certainspecial designations such as minus, plus, or space, and the right handdecagon 38b, as seen in FIG. 12, which is a special designation controldisk, like the disk 38a and may bear the different designations ofletters, figures, space," minus, plus, etc., depending upon the desiredinformation to be placed in between the two groups of perforations beingpuhched. It will be notfed in FIG. 12 that the decagons have theirlowermost surface spaced below the adjacent bottom surface of the plate36 by a thickness equivalent to the thickness of the control card 37 sothat the active surface of the control card 37 and the lower surfaces ofthe control disks 38 are in the same plane with reference to the pins52.

As seen in FIG. 12, the left-most disk 38a is secured integrally, as bybrazing, to a sleeve 71 which is secured at its other end to a knurledhandle or disk 72. The second control disk 38 is similarly connected bya sleeve 71a to a control disk 73 so that these disks (with theexception of the endmost disk 3812) are controlled by the control disksor handles 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76. These adjusting or control disks mayhave the numerals representing the active faces of the associatedpunching decagons placed on the upper visible surfaces thereon ifdesired.

Latch means are provided for the various decagons 38 (FIG. 13) to insuretheir remaining in the selected adjusted position, and for this purposethe various control disks 72 through 76 are each provided with a seriesof ten notches 82 adapted to be engaged normally under spring pressureby a latching pawl or finger 83, which is housed in recessed frame 84and backed up by a spring 84. Each pawl 83 is adapted to be operated bya pivoted release lever 87 having its other end under the control of akey 88 slidable in the frame 84. There is one key 88 for each of thefive knurled control disks 72, etc. Upon depression of the key 88, itrocks the lever 87 and lifts the latch pawl 83 so that the associatedcontrol member can be turned and adjusted. The right-most control memberof decagon 38b can be adjusted independently and, has no control diskassociated therewith.

The retaining plates 91 and 92 for the latch pawl mounting plates 84are, with the latch plates 84, secured on the shaft 39 by a nut 93, andat the rear they are retained by a bracket 96 (FIG. 7) on the punchplate 36 in which the shaft 39 is secured.

In operating the punch 26 by the handle 28, means is brought into playto first lock the punch 26 and the base 20 in a connected relation asshown in FIG. 14, and then by increased leverage to make the actualperforating movement of the punch. For this purpose the handle 28 isconnected by a link 101 (FIGS. 14 and to an arm 102 by means of a pivotscrew or stud 103. The arm 102 is provided at its lower end with a boss104, which is secured by a set screw 105 to an eccentric portion 186 ofa mounting pin 108 pivotally carried in the base plate 36 of the punchframe and a depending bracket arm 107 secured to the punch mechanism. Aconnecting lever or latch member 1 11 is also apertured to engage overthis eccentric portion 106 of the pin 1118 and is frictionally securedthereon between a shoulder 112 of the pin 106 and the boss 104A springwasher 1 13 is held adjustably in place by a nut 117 by which anadjustable friction can be placed on the lever 111 so that it tends tomove with the lever 102 and its hub 103 unless positively held againstmovement therewith.

This lever 111 has at its lower end a hook 121 which is aligned with anopening 122 in the base casting and this opening has at either side aninclined surface 123 and 124 to guide the hook 121 downwardlytherethrough. This hook 121 is adapted to be moved and engage under aneccentric portion 126 of a shaft 127. The shaft 127 is journaledrespectively in a side wall of the base 20 in an intermediate wall 20aand in a depending boss 125 of FIG. 19 of the base 20. This shaft 127(FIG. 4) has a flattened end 128 to engage closely in a slot 129 in alever 131 which is a turning handle for the shaft 127 and the portion126 to effect vertical adjustment of the eccentric pin 128. This lever131 is held in place by a clamp screw 132 in passing through a slot 133in the lever and threaded into the base member 20.

As the handle 28 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 4, the firstaction of the arm 102 is pivoting one about the axis of the shaft 1, anda corresponding pivoting movement of the latch lever 1 11 is effected soas to move its hook underneath the eccentric portion 126 of the shaft127. With the hook in place continued action or pivoting of the arm 102is ineffective to make further movement of the hook lever l 11, but theeccentric portion of the pin 104 is moved from the position shown inFIG. 14, to that shown in FIG. 16 thereby effectively moving the base 20and the punch 26 together to effect perforating operation on the tape.In this fashion the desired leverage is effected to effect manualperforation of a considerable number of holes in a tape at the sametime.

Feed Mechanism As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plate 135 on the frame of thepunch carries a pawl 136 which is urged by a spring 137 into engagementwith one of the notches 138 of a disk 139 journaled on the shaft 141 andconnected by a sleeve 1 to an external gear 142 (FIG. 4). Gear 142 isconnected with an idling gear 143 to a pinion 144 carried by a crossshaft 146 (FIG. 10) suitably journaled on the frame of the machine. Thiscross shaft 146 carries at its other end a tape drive pinion 147 havinga peripheral series of tape drawing pins 148 withround ends whichcomprise feed pins for engaging the feed perforations of the tape 45which is held in place by a spring-urged retainer arm 151 pivoted on ashaft 152. The drive pinion 147 (FIG. 2) is journaled on the shaft 146,and has a half portion or segment 147a (FIGS. 2 and 10) which opposes ahalf-segment 156a of a pulley 156- which is secured to the shaft 146 andis connected to the segment 147a by a pair of adjusting screws 159. Bythis means the relation of the feed pins to the tape can be adjustedwith reference to the feed of the tape and the position of theperforating pins to advance the pins so as to vary the position of theperforations in the tape with respect to the perforating pins 52 tocorrespond to either of two positions of the feed holes with respect tothe code perforations, i.e., with the centers transversely aligned orwith the leading edges of the holes transversely aligned. In, thismanner the perforater can be adjusted to accommodate different types oftape.

As seen in FIG. 2 the pulley 156 is connected by a spring belt 157 witha drive pulley 158 (FIG. 7), for the take-up reel 159 for the perforatedtape. The outer flange 161 of this reel is held in place by a removableknob member 162. The feed reel 166 for the tape is journaled on avertical shaft 167 and the feed of the tape therefrom passing through aright angle turn guide 168 after extending over a guide pin 169 andthence goes underneath the punch mechanism as seen in FIG. 1 to a frontidler drum 170, and then back over and through the punch mechanism andunder a guide pin 171 to the feed reel.

The shaft 146 (FIG. 3) carries a double notched disk 173 which isengaged by a retaining roller 174 to resiliently hold the drive sprocketfor the tape in place. The roller 174 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is carried by alever 176 which is pivoted at 177 on the base 20 and is urgedresiliently in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by meansof a leaf spring 178'to maintain roller 174 in contact with disk 173.

To trace the drive, the lifting movement of the punch frame 26 from itsdown position as seen in the drawings effects, through the pawl 136, aone-quarter revolution of the notched disk 139, and through the sleeve140 turns the gear 142 one-quarter of a revolu tion. This gear has atwo-to-one drive ratio with the gear 144 and the shaft 146 receives aone-half revolution on this backstroke or lifting movement of the punchmechanism. Upon the down movement, which would be a clockwise movementin FIG. 8, the pawl 136 rides backover the notched disk 139 to engagethe next succeeding notch 138 for the next actuation.

OPERATION The operation will be described assuming that the tape punchmechanism is to be used in connection with accounting operationsinvolving a credit card of the general type shown in FIG. 6, wherein thecode perforation 66 bear the number or name designation of the holder ofthe card. After a purchase, the card 37 is placed in the tape punch forexample, in FIG. 5, with the unperforated end seated in the nest formedby the plate 63 and against the abutment wall 63b and then its aperture62 is placed over the pin 61, all of this being effected with the punchmember 26 in raised position. The perforations of the code card are incontrolling relation with a left-most group of pins 52 beginning at theleft of the pin 61. The row comprising the pin 61 and the next row tothe right of pin 61 is aligned with the blank portion at the right-mostend of the card 37 are associated with the card 37 but the card does notselect the holes to be punched.

The control card 37 therefor is placed over the upper ends of the pins52 of the ten left-most rows forming a first principal group of pinswith its unperforated portions in controlling relation with the pins.Subsequently, when the punch member is operated, the pins which are'notaligned with the aperture 66 in the code card 37 will be operated topunch' holes. Immediately adjacent this principal group to the left ofthe pin 61 are the two fixed designations comprising the pin 61 and thefour pins in the row to the right thereof which will always be operatedby the unperforated right hand edge of the code card 37 and theseconstitute a third group of pins of fixed designations. The rightmostsix rows of pins 52, as seen in FIG. 5, constitute another principalgroup and these are aligned with the abutments formed by the lower-mostsurface of the decagons 38 (FIG. 12) which are manually set to representnumbers, or in the case of the decagons 38a and 38b, are set for specialdesignations such as alphabet following," figures following," pulse,minus," etc. The middle four of these royvs would represent the amountof the purchase to be entered and punched in the tape 45.

The tape itself is fed from the horizontally disposed feed reel 166 asseen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, and this tape preferably has the feed holestherein pre-perforated, the tape being properly aligned by meansincluding the tape feed wheel 147 carrying the feed pins 148.

If desired, appropriately placed pins for perforating the feed holes maybe mounted in the perforating mechanism and it will be seen that theywould be underneath a solid portion of'the code card so that the feedholes will always be punched if this modification is used.

After the code card 37 has been put in place and the decagons 38appropriately adjusted, the punch member 26 is brought down by means ofhandle 28 from an upright position to a position as shown in FIG. 4, forexample, where the hook member 111 has entered the aperture in the base20, but has not been engaged with the shaft 126. Continued pressure onthe handle 28 will cause the hook 111 and the lever 102 to rotate andassume the position shown in FIG. 14 where the hook 121 has engaged theportion 126 of the shaft 127, and the punch member 26 and the base 20are coupled and ready for a further operation which will effect theactual perforation of the tape. This further operation is accomplishedby depressing the handle 28 to its fullest extent when the lever 102will be pivoted and its eccentric 104 will cause a shortening of thedistance between the coupling point of the hook 121 and the punch member26 to effectively bring the punch member down and with increasedleverage effect the punching of the full array of holes determined bythe control card 37 in place and by the setting of the decagon disks 38.When the lever 28 is allowed to rise under the influence of its springthe first action is pivotal movement of the hook 111 to a disengagedposition so that the punch member 26 is again in condition to beelevated to its upright position by use of the handle 28.

During this elevating movement, the tape feed mechanism is brought intoplay by the operation of the pawl 136 (FIG. 8) causing a quarter turn ofthe gear 137 (FIG. 4) and correspondingly a one-half turn of the shaft146 and of the feed pinion carrying the feed pins 148 (FIG. 10). Thisoperation advances the tapeonto the punch tape reel 159, 161 and feeds anew unpunched area of tape underneath the perforating pins ready for thenext perforating operation.

Referring to FIG. 17, it will be noted that the top portion 48 of theperforating mechanism has a longitudinal recess 48a in its bottom faceimmediately beneath thepins 52 forming a channel to receive the tape.The pins 52 are held in elevated position by means including a springplate 56 and a plurality of compression springs 57 which are fewer innumber than the pins 52, and which always have intervening between themand the next adjacent spring one spring-free pin 52 so the entire spacearound the pin becomes available for occupancy by the compression springwhich can therefore be made of wire larger in diameter and of a largerdiameter in coil. In this way there is no likelihood of the springbecoming wedged in the clearance opening which of necessity must beprovided around each pin 52 and the wall of the aperture 53 in thehousing portion 48 of the perforating mechanism.

While the above operation has been described in connection with the useof the control card 37 as a credit card, obviously, this card could alsobe an inventory card of a particular item, for example in a warehouse orstore where the permanent identification of the item could be coded intothe card in the holes 66 and where the adjustable members or decagon 38could be used either for the amount in inventory plus the amountordered, in cases or units, as the item demanded. In this way, a recordof the inventory is placed permanently on an elongated tape.

While we have shown and described a certain preferred embodiment of theinvention, the invention is capable of modification and variation fromthe form shown so that scope thereof should be limited only by the scopeofthe claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. [n a punch mechanism for perforating paper tape and the like objects,a base member, a movable punch member operatively related to said basemember for relative movement toward and away from said base member, saidmovable punch member having two positions relative to said base member,one of the positions comprising an open position in which both the punchmember and the base member are accessible for inspection and repair, andsaid second position comprising an operating position wherein the punchmember and the base member are in relatively close spaced apart relationfor relative perforating movement between the two, perforating mechanismcarried by one of said members and operable by relative movement betweenthe two members to effect a perforating operation, and meansestablishing an operating connection between said two members includingnormally disconnected leverage means brought into play by relativeclosing movement between said punch member and said base to effectperforating operation of said perforating mechanism.

2. in a punch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said movablepunch member is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said base memberand in which said connection comprises a holding element mounted on oneof the members and a hook mounted on the other of the members in pivotedfashion and adaptedto engage and be connected to said element.

3. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in

which said perforating mechanism comprises a rectangular array ofperforating pins and a rectangular array of die holes cooperativelyrelated therewith and means for receiving an object such as tape betweensaid pins and said holes, said pins being operated by said punch memberupon closing movement with respect to said base member.

4. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 3, in which said rectangulararray of pins and associated die holes are divided into two principalgroups, and in which said groups are separated by a third group of pinsof selected character for effecting a constant punching operation and inwhich means associated with each of said principal groups of pins forselecting the pins and corresponding die holes for operating on theobject to be punched.

5. In a tape punch as recited in claim 4, in which a code card isassociated with said perforating pins and in which tape perforatingmechanism includes means for locating said code card with respect to oneof the principal groups of perforating pins and in which adjustableperforating control members on said movable member are associated withsaid second principal group of pins.

6. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 4, in which one of saidthird group of pins is longer than the other pins and in which said codecard has a perforation for engaging over said longer pin to aid in thelocation thereof. I

7. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in

which said perfpratingmechanism com rises a die member and apin-carrying member mova ly mounted thereon, and means providing forholding the object to be punched between said two members, said movablemember when elevated permitting inspection and/or removal of the objectto be punched.

1. In a punch mechanism for perforating paper tape and the like objects,a base member, a movable punch member operatively related to said basemember for relative movement toward and away from said base member, saidmovable punch member having two positions relative to said base member,one of the positions comprising an open position in which both the punchmember and the base member are accessible for inspection and repair, andsaid second position comprising an operating position wherein the punchmember and the base member are in relatively close spaced apart relationfor relative perforating movement between the two, perforating mechanismcarried by one of said members and operable by relative movement betweenthe two members to effect a perforating operation, and meansestablishing an operating connection between said two members includingnormally disconnected leverage means brought into play by relativeclosing movement between said punch member and said base to effectperforating operation of said perforating mechanism.
 2. In a punchmechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said movable punch member ispivotally mounted at one end thereof on said base member and in whichsaid connection comprises a holding element mounted on one of themembers and a hook mounted on the other of the members in pivotedfashion and adapted to engage and be connected to said element.
 3. In apunch mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which said perforatingmechanism comprises a rectangular array of perforating pins and arectangular array of die holes cooperatively related therewith and meansfor receiving an object such as tape between said pins and said holes,said pins being operated by said punch member upon closing movement withrespect to said base member.
 4. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim3, in which said rectangular array of pins and associated die holes aredivided into two principal groups, and in which said groups areseparated by a third group of pins of selected character for effecting aconstant punching operation and in which means associated with each ofsaid principal groups of pins for selecting the pins and correspondingdie holes for operating on the object to be punched.
 5. In a tape punchas recited in claim 4, in which a code card is associated with saidperforating pins and in which tape perforating mechanism includes meansfor locating said code card with respect to one of the principal groupsof perforating pins and in which adjustable perforating control memberson said movable member are associated with said second principal groupof pins.
 6. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 4, in which one ofsaid third group of pins is longer than the other pins and in which saidcode card has a perforation for engaging over said longer pin to aid inthe location thereof.
 7. In a punch mechanism as recited in claim 1, inwhich said perforating mechanism comprises a die member and apin-carrying member movably mounted thereon, and means providing forholding the object to be punched between said two members, said movablemember when elevated permitting inspection and/or removal of the objectto be punched.